"YOU"D BE A GOOD FOSTER MUM"

 Not long, as I write, before the end of the long summer school holidays here in the UK.The TV commercials for school equipment, which used to depress my kids, don't depress children any more.Why? Because kids don't watch that type of TV!There are no "Back to school soon!" commercials on Disney.And The Lion King is funny, heartwarming, and intelligent.And……yes I let my foster kids watch TV in...

Read More

LOO TIME

 Quick update on our newest foster child "Alicia".She's transitioning, as per if you saw my posts around the time of her arrival.I'm careful to respect her privacy and ensure she can't be identified.But I think it's important to share stuff, after all that's the point of the Secret Foster Carer; to talk about the many joys and challenges of fostering.Naturally our Blue Sky Social Worker is at...

Read More

FOSTERING AND THE BIG PICTURE

 Sometimes in fostering you get so pre-occupied with the day-to-day stuff that the big picture disappears off your radar.Luckily, in my case, our Blue Sky social worker shows up - once a month at the moment - and helps me re-focus.So. What's the big picture?Well, for example, a small picture is that your foster child chucks detrius under the bed. Y'know; empty crisp packets, apple cores,...

Read More

WE GOT THIS ONE WRONG...

There's no time in fostering for regrets, but here's one I kick myself about…The thing about school holidays is that your foster child's social life comes to the fore.Their social life's always big, of course, but it's an issue that tends to stick out at weekends. And holidays.Older kids, on Saturdays, they go off and chill at "Jasmine's" or "Aiden's", and we have to make judgements about the family...

Read More

THE BEAUTY OF SCHOOL SUMMER HOLIDAYS

The joys of fostering are myriad, but you have to know where and how to look. It's August, it's hot (well today it's hot) and the school summer holidays are well under way.A challenging six weeks for parents, and an interesting period for us foster parents.Why?All sorts of reasons, not least how to handle the getaway family holiday.When our own kids were young it was a caravan on the Isle of...

Read More